Connecting link for antiskid chains



March 24, 1925 J. F. HERMAN CONNECTING LINK FOR ANTISKID CHAINS i1 e dApril 18. 1922 INVENTOR. kfasqbh FEW/72am, BY

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 24, 1925.

1 JOSEPH F. HERMAN, or WA-sHINCroN, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CONNECTING LINK For. nN'rIs In CHAINS.

Application filed. April '18, 1922. serial No. 554,s5s.

To all whom it may 0012.0617ti, Be it known that I, J osnrrr F. H MAN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District ofColumbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'inConnecting Links for Antij skid Chains, of which the followingis aspecification.

The present invention relates to anti-skidding chains for wheels ofautomobiles and trucks and consists in the combinations-and arrangementsof parts hereinafter described and particularly set forth in theaccompanying claim.

The invention has for itspurpose to provide an antieskiddin g chain ofsingle length which is arranged and carried by the wheel in a mannerpermittingsaid chain to travel continuously around the'wheel felly andtire thereby obtaining the maximum efficiency or working area for thesingle chain on the wheel.

A further purpose of the inventionis tov provide an individual chain-ofthis type which will have .positive engagement with the surface of theroadway passedover, but which is so attached to the wheel as to creeptransversely of the tire, and about the longitudinal axis of the chainitself, thereby subjecting the chain to uniform wearing throughout;

Another purpose of the invention is to provide the chain with a novelform of at taching or fastening means which is of simple constructionand readily mai'iipulated for applying or removing the chain from thewheel, but which will eifectively hold un der all normal workingconditions and wear to which the chain would be subjected.

The construction of connecting link disclosed herein is proposed as animprovement over the type of connecting link is shown in the co-pendingapplication for U. S. Letters Patent of Elisha G. Thomas, Serial No.292,350, filed April 22, 1919, and of which I am the assignce of theentire right, title and interest by virtue of assignment recorded in thetransfers of U. S. patents, liber U-115, page 39; and the co-pendingapplication forming a division of said application, Serial No. 554,392,filed April 18, 1922, and of which I am the assignee by virtue of'assignment recorded in the transfers of U. S. patents, liber 11-117,page 330.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanyingdrawings, where1n:

.Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate the operatlons necessary forconnectingthe link with the chain when applying the device to a wheel.

F ig. 4: is,a' detail perspective view of the connecting link per se. i

' Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the same, and

Fig..6 show s thechain and connecting link in applied position.

vReferring to the construction in further detail and with like referencecharacters designating corresponding parts in the diflerent views shown,7 represents the rim, 8 the wheel.

The anti-skidding device comprises a single chain'length 10 that isadapted to be fitted about the tire andfellybr rim of the length of the;chain and connecting link are such that whe'n assembled they will" gripthe tire and rim with'suflicient ta-utness to serve the anti-skiddingfunction 'and yet allow the Chain to automatically creep transversely ofthe tire'after the manner indicated by the arrows A in Fig t. Inaddition to this function oroperation of the chain said chain willautomatically turn or twist about the longitudinal axes of therespective chain links, i. e.,'j' the chain as a whole turns or twistsbodily quite independently of its lengthwise traveling movement. For amore detailed description of the construction of chain and its manner ofoperation, reference may be had to the two co-pending applications forpatent above identified.

The chain-connecting device consists of an open link or shank portion 11of substantially rectagular cross-section having a hooked end 12 that issecurely fastened to the end link 13 of the chain 10. The extreme endportion 1 1 of the hook portion 12 is appreciably reduced orpointed andturned in, (see Fig. 2) to obviate any likelihood of the hooks injuringthe tire of the wheel rim.

The attaching end of the connecting link 11 is formed with an upwardlyand outward- 1y disposed portion 15, having for its function to engagewith the two free end links 16 of the chain 10 to avoid all likelihoodof displacement of connecting link should the chain 10 as a whole becomeslack from any spokes and 9 the tire of any automobile wheel'in' themanner shown in Fig. 6. The

when desiiiie cause, and to Withstand the violent movements of thechains which necessarily occur incidenhtb, the iis'eof the" tleificedilthe wheel. The attaching end portion of the connecting link 11 isformed with a. flattened head 17 of. substantially rc'fiafl'g'iiltrewes: section and having a laterall proj ecting portion 18 whichfunctidhs e1 etaiiiiiig'el ment to hold said bar 11 connected With thefree end link of the chitin 1U against tisplacement, but to permit- .ofsimple. and easy ifiziiiucl oer-seamen oi tlisoiinect io between said cnecting link and free iid l Te a'pp y ifeintii e the ew-ems it wholeequires on y the taking up e the sleek ill the 61min and trailing thefree ends 16 tosubstantiallythe cross-Wise direction sh-oivn iii Figurewhen it; saiiie' may be. emeniently passed over the head 17 andretainiiig hook poi ioii 18 iii substzintially. the manner shown inljziiid 2.

' Thepi ov'isioiiof tlieflaiin'g" sidesiiiiiaces 19 and 20 ah- 1; the.curt ed fs ur'fzic e 2 1Iada pts ink the device to be readily connectedto or removed from chains of different shape or twist By simple andeasily performed manipulation of the hands.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details oretiiistruction and arrangement of parts Without departing froi'nthespirit of my invention, and, therefore-,1 do not wish to be limited tosuch features exeept its inay be required by the claim. I

What is claiinc d as new is I A aiiiiecting link for chains comprising ashe 'k bent upon itself at one end to form 5 1166%, the end or and hookbeing flattened and haviiw alatera 1y projecting portion f'orin'ed witha flattened end, the, side of the 'sh'anl't adjacent the laterallyprojecting portion being tapered andhprovided with a ciii i ed surfie'w11'er'e15y the link may be readily attached to or detached from chainsof difierent shape, subst ntially as set forth. Incestimony Wlieieo Iafiix inf signature. JOSEPH F. H *RMAN.

